The use of percutaneous transcathter hepatic arterial chemoembolization in the treatment of primary liver cancer has become increasigly popular in recent years. The author evaluated this method using a combination of antineoplastic
chemotherapeutic
agents as a preliminary treatment before hepatic resection. For the purpose of evaluation of the efficacy of this eombined approach, the author compared the long term survival rates of two groups of patients treated with surgical resection after
preoperative chemoeombolization and surgical resection only. The patients deceased during the perioperative period were excluded from this study. The 1 year, 2 year and 3 year survival rates were 91%, 49%, and 30%, respectively in the group of
patients
treated with combined modality. The 1 year, 2 year and 3 year survival rates were 66.7%, 20% an 0%, respectively in the group of patients treated with surgical resection only. The survival rates of the two groups of patients was statistically
significant(p<005). The role of preoperative chemoebolization may be considered as an essential adjunct to surgical resection in order to improve the long term survival of the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
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